Ground-box



RfR. SCOGGAN.

GROUND BOX. APPLxcAUoN FILED 58.12, |920.

1,377,029. Patented May 3, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT clerics.

RICHARD It. SCOGGAN, 0F JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 KY.SWITCII& SIGNAL CO., INC., 0F ST. MATTHEWS, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION OFKENTUCKY.,

GROUND-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

l Patented May 3, 1921.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD R. SooGGAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Jeffersonville, county ofClark, and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Ground-Boxes, of which the Jfollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to ground boxes of the character which areembedded in the ground in proximity to the switch of a street railwaytrack, and are adapted to contain the actuating mechanism ofelectrically operated means for shifting the tongue of the switch. Themechanism comprises an electric translating device which is operativelyconnected with a lever which in turn is fulcrumed on the box. rIhe dutyon this lever is heavy and the fulcrum bearing requires frequentreplacement.

An object of this invention is to provide a box as characterized whichwill be economical in construction and wherein the bearing for theactuating lever may readily be positioned and easily replaced when worn.l

With the foregoing `and other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, which forms a part of this speciication wherein isset forth an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understoodthat such changes and modifications may be. resorted to as come withinthe scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing wherein similar reference characters designate like partsin the several views, Figure 1, is a top plan view, with the lidremoved, of a ground box embodying the invention: Fig. 2, a section online 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3, a section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing the reference character #l0-'designates a boxhaving a' rabbet -11- for the reception of a lid. Disposed within thebox is a solenoid -12 from which extends a stem -13- which is pivotallyconnected to one end of a lever 1A- The other end of the lever isprovided with a rigidly connected depending ulcrum pin 15 which isreceived in a bearing, or bushing -20-. An arm -1 7- pivotally connectedto the lever intermediate its length extends exterior of the box and isoperatively connected with the switch bolt 22 extends.

tongue. A rigid-abutment, or vjaw -18-, preferably cast integral withthe'box, is so positioned, here shown as extendingl outward from acorner of the box, that a ver-lV tical Vgroove 19n formed in a facethereof is adapted to receive and properly locate a bronze bushing 20-to serve as a bearing for the pin 15. The abutment is also provided witha vertically disposed T shaped slot -21- which extends downward acertain distance from the top and opens at one end on the side of theabutment in-spaced relation to the groove 19. The horizontally* disposedportion `of the T-slot is adapted to receive the head of a bolt 22, thefree threaded end of which extends outwardly beyond the lower face ofthe abutment. A rocking jaw -23- is provided on a face 'thereof with avertical rib 24- adapted to bear against the opposing face of theabutment and provide a fulcrum on which the jaw may rock. The jaw isprovided with a vertical groove -25- which is disposed opposite thegroove 19, in the abutment. The jaw is provided with a transverseperforation -26- through which the A nut -27- threaded on the boltprovides means whereby the jaw may be drawn toward the'abutment andcaused to clamp the bushing firmly. To replace a worn bushing it is onlynecessary to litt out the lever, loosen the nut 27, remove the wornbushing, place a new one .in position and tighten the nut.

Having thus described my invention so that. those skilled in the artpertaining thereto can make and use the same, I claim.:

1. A construction as characterized, comprising a rigid member, a jawmember in juxtaposition thereto having a projecting rib at one endcontacting with a surface of said rigid member, said members each hav-ling a substantially semicircular groove in their opposed faces, abushing seated in saidl grooves and means adapted to apply pressure tosaid jaw member at a point intermehaving a groove near one end adaptedto register with the groove of said abutment for receiving said bushing,and a projecting 'rib at the other end adapted to contact with the faceof the abutment, and means for applying pressure to said jaw member atapoint located between said ends for moving the jaw member about said ribas a pivot and tightly clamping the bushing in position.

3. In a ground box for switch throwing mechanism having a solenoidwithin the .box provided with a movable plunger, a

lever for throwing the switch connected at one end to said plunger andhaving a depending journal pin at the other end, the

combination of an abutment extending into the interior of said boXhaving a T-slot and a groove formed therein, a jaw member having agroove near one end adapted to register with the groove of saidabutment, a projecting rib adapted to Contact with said abutment and anintermediate aperture in alinement with a portion of said T-slot, a

bushing for rotatably receiving said jour-- nal pin, said bushing beingmounted in said registering grooves and a bolt located in said T-slotand passing through said aperture whereby said jaw may be rocked aboutthe projecting rib as a pivot for tightly clamping said bushing inosition.

RICHARD SCOGGAN.

